Mind Your Business: The 5 Best Tips For ‘Elite Entrepreneurs’ From The Founder And CEO Of Johnson Media Inc.

While the worst of The Great Recession might be behind us, for a lot of Americans, trying to find employment has been a difficult task, which makes this an ideal time for entrepreneurs to get moving on their start-ups.

Johnson, who started his company in 2000, has been nominated for this year NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Instructional Literary Work. So in honor of his nomination, #TeamBeautiful picked the five best quotes that will help determine if you have it in you to be your own boss.

1. “To be an entrepreneur is to think differently.”

Johnson opens his book by defining what separates an entrepreneur from your average worker. While some want to find a secure job, an entrepreneur wants to create jobs. Some want security and entrepreneurs take risks. If these thoughts go through your mind regularly, then you’ve got what it takes!

2. “Work on your business, not in your business.”

If you’re an entrepreneur with no staff, you’re basically self-employed. Johnson warns that its important for entrepreneurs hire a staff that can carry out the important duties to make the business run, so the entrepreneur can focus on serving the client, or growing the business.

“Procrastination is opportunity’s natural assassin.” Victor Kiam, former owner of the New England Patriots.

4. “Ask for help.”

If you want to succeed, you have to lose your ego. There’s no two ways about it. Johnson began his media empire sophomore year while attending Morehouse College, ten years later as he sits at the top of his empire, Johnson still reaches out to his mentors for any guidance he may need.

5. “Business comes first, family second.”

If your business is doing well then you deserve and have the flexibility to take time off to spend with your family. If your business isn’t doing well, then you should be hard at work to afford those opportunities.

Watch the 45th Annual NAACP Awards LIVE, exclusively on TV One, in a in a two hour special Saturday, February 22 at 9:00 p.m. ET (PT tape-delayed). Before the main event, see the nominees and even more stars grace the red carpet in a one-hour pre-show at 8:00 p.m. ET (PT tape-delayed).